The minister said he wanted the changes to improve services for passengers, who are travelling on an increasingly crowded and expensive network. He wants each rail franchise to be run by joint management teams, including representatives from both the train operating company and Network Rail.

Mr Grayling said:

“I intend to start bringing back together the operation of track and train on our railways.”

“We need to change the relationship between the tracks and the trains on the railway. In my experience passengers don’t understand the division between the two. They just want someone to be in charge. They want their train to work. I agree with them.”

Each franchise will be run by one joint team, but the franchise owners and Network Rail will continue to exist separately.

“We strongly welcome these plans to bring more joined up working within the industry. We have already devolved Network Rail into route-based businesses closer to customers, and the proposals announced today will build on the alliances we have created between these route businesses and train operators. We also strongly believe there should be better alignment of incentives between train companies and Network Rail. That is why we now align the performance incentives for all of Network Rail’s 35,000 staff, around targets agreed jointly with train operators. But more needs to be done across the industry”